Nutcracker.



S. G. PEGKHAM.

NUTGRAGKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY'9.190B.

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S. C. PEKHAM NUTGRAGKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1908.

SAMUEL c. mennen, or AUSTIN, Texas.

Nureaackna.

specification fre-mrs Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

Application tiled May 9, 1908. Serial No. 431,?97.

lb ali 'whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. lznonHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Im* provenients in Nutcrackers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tonut crackers, and the object of the invention is t-o produce a machine whereby nuts may be automatically fed from a suitable hopper through a discharge tube upon a tilting table and there be engaged by suitable nut cracking members, which when the nut is fractured will automatically withdraw from the nutI and the table be automatically inclined to deposit the broken nut upon a suitable chute or convcyer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character with a hopper havin@r an outlet chute, said hopper being provi ed with an agitator whereby the nuts are stirred and directed toward the chute, and said chute being provided with sliding doors, the space between the doors being occupied by a feeling member which is adapted to operate the upper door when the space between the doors is not occupied by a nut so as to allow anut to be deposited upon the lower or outlet door.

W ith these, and other objects in View, the invention resides in the novel construction of elements and their arrangement in opera-- tive combination, hereinafter fully described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section upon the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. lfig. 2 is a horizontal .sectional view upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. l? ig. 3 is a front elevation of the throw regir lating device. F ig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the sliding collar which actuates the fracturing device. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of one of the nut fracturing jaws. Fig. (3 1s a perspectlve View of .one of the internal cam wheels. Fig. 7 1s a slde elevation of one of the nut cracking or fracturing members. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the assembled parts along the axis of the nut cracking members, parts being shown in elevation.

ln the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 designates the base of the machine and the. numeral 1 a platform or table positioned above the base. The base is provided with oppositely arranged radially disof the drawings, as well as being adapted posed posts 2. These postsg2 are adapted to support the table 1', whichis constructed in sections, as clearly illustrated in F ig. 2

for the reception of the operating shafts 3 and 4; The shaft 3 extends longitudinally of the base 1 and is provided upon one of its ends with a crank wheel 5 which has a suitable handle 6 whereby the shaft 3 may be rotated. The shaft 3, in the Iembodiment of the device illustrated in the drawings, is provided with a beveled gear 7 engaging similar gears 8 upon the radially disposed shafts 4. By this arrangement it will be noted that when the shaft 3 is revolved the latter will, through the medium of the bevel gear 7, impart motion to the radially disposed shafts 4. The shafts 3 and 4 are each provided with precisely similar mechanism and are adapted to operate in unison so that the reference numerals applied to the devices upon one of the shafts may be equally applicable to the remainder of the shafts.

The shafts are each provided with peripheral grooved cam wheels 9 and 10 and an internal cam wheel 1l, the purposes of which will hereinafter be set forth. The posts 2 lare provided with bearing surfacesupon their upper extremities and adjacent their points of connection with the platform or table 1, as indicated by the numeral 12, and have inwardly projecting arms 13, as clearly illustrated in F ig. 1 of the draw'-l ings. The bearings 12 are adapted for the reception of the arms of a nut cracking or fracturing device. These devices each comprise a nut fracturing jaw which may have its :tace provided with arcuate and transverse knives 15 and have an extension 16 providing a shoulder 17, a reduced exten- 1-sion 1S which in turn is also provided with a similar reduced extension providing a. shoulder 19 between the said member 20 and the-member 18. The extension 20 is bent upon itself or otherwise formed with an offset or finger 21, as clearly illustrated in the figures of the drawings. The reduced portions 20`of the nut cracking elements are adapted to be positioned within the bearings 12 of the arms 2 while their larger portionslS are adapted for engagement with a slidable operating collar 22. This collar 22 has its sides provided with suitable ears adapted for engagement with the walls, of the adjacent sections of the table or platform 1 which provides suitable bearings whereby the'rsaid collarl maybe slid toward the center of the device ina manner hereinafter to beset forth. The bore of the extension 18 of the nut4 fracturing device, but is not large enough to receive the extension 16 of the said device, and the collar has its lower portion provided with outwardly extending ears 24 which are adapted forthe reception of a pintle 25 and whereby the` slotted extension of an arm 26 is connected tto .the saidl collar. HThe arm 26 is pivotally connectedwith the 'offset arm 13 `of the member 2, as at 27, and has its lower :portion provided with av rectangular mem- .n lber. i100 which is cutaway to provide a substantially rectangular fi-ame.'y Adapted to ``bts-po sitioned withinvthis frame visa sliding block 101 "which kmay 'be adjusted toward either end .ofthe frame through the medium of `threaded lelementsl 1021v each" engaging u threaded orificespin the Y sides of the: frame 'and-having".theirends bearmgfagainst they l `Sides offthefmember 101. This; block- 101 is adapted to". be'p'ositioned x of theA vwheel'9,and.jitl .jwhen the shaft 3 is revolved, carrying with 7 itfthe yearn wheel 9, the arm 26 will be oscilwithin the lgroove lated upon its pivot 27 thereby forcing the collar-'22 upon its bearing and upon thev c extension 18 in .bothdirections. s .'.i'lhe shafts '3f and 4 areeach provlded wlth i upstanding arms" 28 v.having cam faces 29 f ich are adapted to engagethe offset 21 of the nut cracking element, and positioned between the arms 2 and the shoulders 19 of the. said fracturingy element is a pressure spring y23 which exerts pressurebetween the member 2 and the shoulder 19and tends to nut fracturing devices is the throw regulatmg devicez30. 'These -deviees 30 each com' Aprisea mainbodyportion'll having an ofl set '32iprovidedwith a suitable opening and y, .adaptedfor-the reception of a sliding memy 5 'ber'.33. This member 33 has its llower Vporthe reception 34 which is interposed tion reduced and adapted for of .a helical spring ibetween the offset 32 and 'the Abody .of the member 33 so as tonormally force the body "of the member-upward. This member 33 is provided with a suitable slot or elongated epenin whereby the member may be slid j vertica ly in regard to the shaft of the. nut

cracking element. The member 33 is provided v'with a. plurality of pivoted tumblers 35. These tumblers are arranged in pairs c adjacent each other and upon each sideof thel throw regulating element and are secured tothe member 33 through the-medium of Suitablepintles36 while their upper ends .are connected through the. medium of tenvset finger 39 which is ada ing willjbe noted, that i more of the lower arms of the tumblers 35 is sufiicient g to ,allow for the reception of the extension collar 22 is sufiicentlylarge to receive the 18 of the nut cracking or fracturing members, but it is not sufficient to allow for the melilla-.rs 35 have their upper inner faces concaved as designated by the numeral 38 and the said tumblers are provided with suitable slots adapted for the reception of pin stops whereby the movement of the said tumblers in either direction is limited. The portions of the tumblers formed by the concaved eut away portions 38 are of a size sufficient to snugly engage the enlarged portion'lG of the nut fracturing element. The member 33 is provided with a suitable ofi'- ted to play within the cut away portion o the internal cam wheel 1.1 carried by the shafts 3 and 4.

operation of the mechanisml above describedls as follows: It is to be understood that the fracturing jaw-s 14 of the nut crackapparatus are adapted to lmove away from each other only a suiicient distance to allow a nut delivered from a hopper to a tilting table, (both the table and hopper to be hereinafter described) so as to provide a substantial pocket within which the nut 1s received and whereby the nut is prevented from falling or slipping away from the fracturing elements before being operated The shafts are followingvmanner: First, the internal cam wheel 11 acting upon the offset finger of the member 33 draws downwardly the ,y slotted member 31 carrying with it the turnforce the fracturing element forward toward blers 35 which have their curved portions in a direct line with the portion 16 of the nut fracturing element; second, the cam face 29 carried by the arm 28 is brought into contact with the offset finger 21 of the nut fracturing device foreing the said device rearwardly against the pressure of the s ring 23 contacting the shoulder 19; third immediately after the cam 29 passes the offset finger 21 of the nut fracturing device, the spring 23 acting upon the shoulder 19 forces the fracturing head 14 forward into contact with the nut now deposited upon the table and the offset finger of the member 33 being released from its engagement with the internal cam of the wheel 11 is forced upwardly under the pressure of the spring 34, thus allowing one or pairs of tumblers, according to the sizeof the nut, to contact the shoulder 17 of the f racturing device; and finally, the arm 26 is oseillated through the medium of the peripheral cam wheel 9 which exerts pressure upon the member 22 thereb forcing the member 31 and the tumblers carried thereby forwardly causing the tumblers encut away enlarged l @ging the shoulder 17 of the fracturing member to exert forward pressure u on the said member and' thus fracture t e nut. 'llhis operation is continued indefinitely or until all of the nuts within a hopper, hereinafter to be described, are fractured, it being understood that the parts, after frac-v turing the nuts are returned to their initial positions through the .medium of the cams and springs connected therewith.

ltrranged upon the base 1 of the machine, and directly below the center of the nut fracturing jaws 15, when the latter are in coaction with each other, are ears 49 which are adapted to receive the leg 4l of a pivoted table 42. This tableis adapted to engage with a cam member 44 carried upon the shaft 3 and may be normally forced into engagement with said cam through the me dium of a spring 43. The cam is so positioned upon the shaft 3 as to bring the table directly beneath the mouth of a tube con nected with the nut receiving hopper when the nut is to .be delivered between the fracturing devices and is so arranged as to force the table 42 rearwardly or out of the path of the nut when fractured so as to allow the same to be received upon a suitable chute or conveyer, not shown.

rlhe base 1 is provided with suitable standards 45, adapted to support a cone-shaped hopper 46. rthis hopper 46 is provided with an outlet tube 47, positioned immediately above the fraeturing jaws 15. llhe tube 47 is provided with a pair of longitudinallyextending sliding doors 48 and 49. rl`he door 49 is positioned in close proximity with the open mouth of the tube, and is adapted to serve as an outlet valve for the nuts from the hopper 46. rlhis door 49 is provided with a stem 50, engaging a rocking arm 51 pivotally connected with the extending arm ,i3 of one of the posts 2, and having its lower end provided with an offset adapted to engage the cam groove of the wheel 10, whereby the door 49 is oscillated, upon the rotation of the shaft 3, to open and close the tube 4T. The tube 47 is provided with a suitable ear adapted for pivotal engagement with the link 52, having its outer end attached to the vertical arm of an IL-shaped agitator member 53, working within the hopper 46, and having its lower arm provided `with a suitable elongated slot adapted for engagement with a pin provided upon the extension 50 of the sliding door 49. By this arrangement it will be noted that as the door 49 is slid to open or close the tube 47 the agitator 5?) is rocked so as to thoroughly move or agitate the nuts within the hopper 46.

The door 4S is positioned within the hopper a :suitable distance awayfrom the door 49, so as to provide'a chamber between these doors suitable for the reception of a single nut. The door 48 has its outer edge upturned or provided with a finger 54, and this finger is provided with a suitable perforation and adapted for the reception of Aone end of a tension spring 55, the outer end of which being positioned in a suitable eye 56 provided upon the hopper 47. i' The spring normally tends to force the door 48 within the tube 47 to effectively close the tube and prevent the entrance of nuts to the sliding door 49. The door 48 is provided with a suitable opening 56, and this' opening is adapted to be engaged by' a nger 57 provided upon a member 58,. This member 58 is positioned upon the arm 59 of the feeling member 60. 'llhe member 60 is provided with an enlarged head, positioned between the doors 48 and 49 and has its outer extremity provided with an enlarged collar 61. 'llhis collar 61 is provided with diametrically opposite pintles 62 adapted for en gagement with suitable slots provided within the bifurcated head of a rocking arm 68.

rl`his arm 63 is pivoted to one of the extensions 13 of one of the posts 2 and has its lower extremity provided with a suitable oftset or linger adapted to engage the cam groove of one of the wheels 10. interposed between the collar 61 and the member 58 is a light spring 65. lhe member 58 is rigidly secured upon the extension 59, and the collar 6l free to slide upon the extension 59 against the pressure of the spring 65.

It will be noted that should the compartment between the sliding doors 48 and 49 be vacant, the feeler 60 will be pressed forward until the linger 57 engages within the slot 56 of the door 48, when the rearward movement of the arm 59 will force the door 48 out of the tube 47, so as to allow a nut to drop through the upper portion of the tube upon the door 49. 'lhe tube 47 is provided with a. bracket arm 66, positioned directly in the path of the finger 57, and adapted to contact the said finger upon the rearward movement thereof to release the same from its engagement with the cutaway portion 56 and to allow the door 48 to return, under the pressure of the spring 55,v to its normal position within the tube to `close `the same and to prevent the entrance of more nuts to the compartment between the doors 48 and 49.

'With this construction it will be noted that provisions are made whereby only a single nut is allowed upon the door 49, as it will be apparent that should a nut be in this compartment when the feeling" device is operated, the .feeler contacting a nut will be returned from entering the compartment and that the collar 61 will merely slide upon the extension 59 and compress the spring 65. Should however the compartment be empty, the feeler" will be forced forward until the finger 57 engages the cut away portion 56 of the door 130 I8 to open the samel in the manner heretofore described. v

The mechanism for operating the feeler arm is so arranged as 'to cause the feeler to be operated twice to each revolution of the operating crank, so as to operate the door 48 quickly, to prevent the entrance of more than one nut upon the door 49 and also to agitate a nut within the tube to deposlt it upon the dooi` 49.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A nut receiving hopper provided with an outlet tube having slidable doors, a feeling plunger operatinr between the doors to allow thc passage otiD the nut to the lower door when the chamber between the doors is vacant, nut fracturing members beneath the outlet tube, a tilting table beneath the fracturing elements, means for retaining the table in a vposition to receive a nut, means for simultaneously operating the fracturing members to act u on the nut, and means for tilting thetablie after the nut has been fractured.

2. In a nut cracking machine, means for fracturin a nut. a hopper connected with the maclune, a discharge tube for the hopper, a .sliding outlet door for the tube, an agitator working within the hop er connected with the outlet door, means or operating the outlet door, a valve above the outlet door, means connected with the valve for normally closing the tube, and a feeling plunger between the valve and the door, said plunger adapted to operate the valve when the chamber between the valve and the outlet door is vacant said plunger being adapted' to remain immovable when the lchamber is occupied by a nut.

3. In anut cracking machine, means for fracturing a nut, a. hopper adapted for the reception 4of the nut, an outlet tubel for the hopper, an outlet door for the tube, an agitator having an arm working within the hopper and connected with the outlet door, means for operating the door and agitator, a sliding valve within the tube, a spring connected with the valve to normally close theopeniug of the tube between the valve and the outlet door, a feeler plunger intermediate of the valve and the outlet door, a finger upon the plunger, a collar loosely mounted upon the plunger rod, a spring intermediate of the collar and the finger, means -for moving the collar and the plunger rod, the nger being adapted to engage the valve to retract the same from the, tube when the plun er v'fis-inserted within the tube, and means or -allow the valve to resume its normal position within the tube.

6s nut cracking members, and means for simuldisengaging the finger from the valve to 4. In a nut cracking machine, thecombination with a plurality of radially dis osed taneousl moving the members toward each other, o throw re lating devices connected with the arms of diie nut cracking members, said throw regulating devices comprising a body having an elongated slot engaging the arms of the nut cracking members, a plurality of tumblers having concave edges pivotally connected with the body mem er and engaging the arms of the nut cracking members, an a slidable collar mounted u on the arm of the nut cracking member an means for forcing the slidable collar against the throw regulating device to force the same against the nut cracking members to move the members toward each other.

5. In a nut cracking machine, a plurality of radially disposed nut cracking members, said members having an arm provided with a shoulder, a throw regulating device upon the arm, said throw regulating device comprising a body having an elongated slot by whichit is positioned upon the arm and a plurality of oppositely disposed tumblers, the tumblers comprlsing ivoted arms adapted to normally engage tlie sides of t-he arm of the nut cracking members and having concave upper faces, means for forcing the nut cracking members toward each other,

` and means for lowering the throw regulat- -an elongated slot and being provided wit a depen ing leg having an ofset, an internal cam wheel upon the machine engaging the lgi'et, a ,plurality of vtumblers upon the 0 y, recessed portions and arranged in pairs positioned a jacent each other, tension s rings connecting the pairs of tumblers, a siding collar upon the arms of the nut fracturing` members 'and contacting with the body of the throw regulating device, ears u on the collar a pvoted arm connected with t 1e ears, an o set upon the arm, and a grooved cam wheel engaging the oii'set.

v7. In a nut cracking machine, nut cracking members, said members being provided with nut engaging jaws having sharpened ribs and being provided with arms, bearings upon the machine for the arms, a s rin between the bearing and vouter ol'set otP eac of the arms, throw regulating devices upon the arms adjacent the shoulders thereof, said throw regulating devices each comprising the tumblers being provided with a body portion provided with an odset having a perforation, a member having an armA member connected with the ears of the eollar, a shaft upon the machine, an internal cam wheel upon the shaft engaging the offset linger of the throw regulating device, a curved cam upon the shaft engaging the pivoted member connected with the collar ears having a member, a cam tace upon the shaft and adapted to contact the offsets of the arms of the nut tracturing elements,

and means for rotating the shaft.

8.111 a nuteracking machine, a hopper provided with an outlet tube, a pivoted table beneath the outlet tube, radially disposed uut fracturing elements between the table and' the tube an outlet door and a valve withiny the tube, a feeling plunger between the valve and the door, means for operating the outlet door, means for moving the feeln ing plunger to operate the valve when the chamber between the outlet door and the valve is vacant, means for simultaneously movin the nut fracturing members toward each ot er, means for swinging the table to receive a nut, and means for swinging the table rearwardly vto dispose of the nut after the same has been broken by the fracturing elements.

9. In a nut cracking machine, the combination of a plurality of radially disposed nut cracking members and means for simultaneously moving the members toward each other to fracture a nut, of a hopper provided with an outlet tube, an outlet door slidably mounted within the tube, an agitator Working within the hopper connected with the outlet door, means for operating the door ,1

and agitator, a sliding valve above the door, said valve having its body provided with an opening and its outer end upturned to provide an ear, a spring connecting the ear with the tube to normally force the door within the tube, a stop member upon the tube, a sliding feeling plunger between the valve and the door, an enlargement provided with a finger normally contacting the sliding valve upon the plunger, a collar upon the plunger and slidably connected therewith, a spring between the collar and the enlargement, the collar being provided with oppositely dis-y posed Iingers and adapted for engagement with the bifurcated arms of a pivoted member, said pivoted member having its lower end provided with an o'set, a shaft upon the machine, and a grooved cam upon the shaft, and said grooved cam adapted to engage with the ott'set of the pivoted member.

ln testimony whereof l atiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL C. PECKHAM. Witnesses:

J. M. EARNEST, L. M. LAYTON. 

